Italian police have pursued a German tourist after seeing him transporting an ancient Roman artifact on a rented electric scooter.
Officers arrested the 24-year-old on Wednesday evening after he was seen speeding down the historic Via Veneto street near the American Embassy with the 30-kilogram marble base of an ancient column between his legs.
Rome's archaeological supervisor described the artifact as being of "historical interest."
Police said the tourist told them he had taken it as a "souvenir", but it is not clear whether he had paid anyone for it.
Police said the man, a German tourist, has not been charged but is under investigation for "receiving stolen cultural goods."
Archaeological experts are still studying the artifact to determine where it came from.
Meanwhile, misbehaving tourists have long been a problem for Italian authorities. In recent years, tourists have been arrested for riding down the Spanish Steps on electric scooters and a Maserati, or for carving initials on Rome's Colosseum and riding mopeds through the ancient ruins of Pompeii.
In February, a tourist from New Zealand was fined for diving into the Trevi Fountain.
Earlier this month, an American tourist had to undergo emergency surgery after becoming trapped on a railing while attempting to climb over a fence surrounding the Colosseum. (A2 Televizion)
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